Question

Case study of water pollution in ganga river

Answer 1

Water Pollution Control - A Guide to the Use of Water Quality Management Principles Edited by Richard Helmer and Ivanildo Hespanhol Published on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council and the World Health Organization by E. & F. Spon © 1997 WHO/UNEP ISBN 0 419 22910 8 Case Study I* - The Ganga, India * This case study was prepared by Y. SharmaI.1 Introduction There is a universal reverence to water in almost all of the major religions of the world. Most religious beliefs involve some ceremonial use of "holy" water. The purity of such water, the belief in its known historical and unknown mythological origins, and the inaccessibility of remote sources, elevate its importance even further. In India, the water of the river Ganga is treated with such reverence. The river Ganga occupies a unique position in the cultural ethos of India. Legend says that the river has descended from Heaven on earth as a result of the long and arduous prayers of King Bhagirathi for the salvation of his deceased ancestors. From times immemorial, the Ganga has been India's river of faith, devotion and worship. Millions of Hindus accept its water as sacred. Even today, people carry treasured Ganga water all over India and abroad because it is "holy" water and known for its "curative" properties. However, the river is not just a legend, it is also a life-support system for the people of India. It is important because: • The densely populated Ganga basin is inhabited by 37 per cent of India's population. • The entire Ganga basin system effectively drains eight states of India. • About 47 per cent of the total irrigated area in India is located in the Ganga basin alone. • It has been a major source of navigation and communication since ancient times. • The Indo-Gangetic plain has witnessed the blossoming of India's great creative talent.

Answer 2

refer to the above pic.